Prevalence of Usutu and West Nile virus antibodies in human sera, Modena, Italy, 2012

J Med Virol. 2018 Oct;90(10):1666-1668. doi: 10.1002/jmv.25230. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Abstract

A collection of 3069 human sera collected in the area of the municipality of Modena, Emilia Romagna, Italy, was retrospectively investigated for specific antibodies against Usutu (USUV) and West Nile viruses (WNV). All the samples resulting positive using a preliminary screening test were analyzed with the plaque reduction neutralization test. Overall, 24 sera were confirmed as positive for USUV (0.78%) and 13 for WNV (0.42%). The results suggest that in 2012, USUV was circulating more than WNV in North-eastern Italy.

Keywords: Emilia-Romagna; Usutu virus; West Nile virus; plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT); seroprevalence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Blood Donors
  • Flavivirus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • West Nile virus / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral

Supplementary concepts

  • Usutu virus